OUR TOWN @ WILLIAMSTOWN THEATRE FESTIVAL, 7/29/10

by Michael Eck
Special to The Times Union
WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. – Nicholas Martin’s tenure as artistic director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival has been brief, but he is leaving on a high note with his production of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town.” While there are remaining titles on the festival’s Nikos Stage and Terry Kinney’s production of Landord Wilson’s “Fifth of July” is still on the way for the main stage, “Our Town” represents Martin’s final work as a director while still being chief creative administrator.
A huge pile of chairs greets the audience on arrival.
The arrangement (designed by David Korins), which is also embraces tables and ladders, is at once foreboding and inviting and it hovers artfully at centerstage.
When the sun rises behind it, it is a sculpture, it is a monument, it is a tombstone.
In short, it’s perfect and as important a character in the production as Campbell Scott’s excellent Stage Manager.
Williamstown isn’t much different than Grover’s Corners and Martin has made use of that, not only in putting actual townspeople (such as Williams College professor Sam Crane as the play’s Professor Willard) on stage, but in letting the town’s ambience set the scene as well.
This is an easygoing “Our Town,” where the actors don’t work too hard and the piece flows organically.
In a feature about the play in the Times Union, actress Jessica Hecht, who plays Mrs. Webb, the editor’s wife, said it’s though the actors are simply playing for each other and the audience is invited in.
She’s right, and that’s just right for Wilder’s play.
The structure of the work retains the power to charm.
When Scott makes his folksy opening speech, he reminds patrons to turn of their cell phones as part it. The play allows for such interruptions. In a fine moment on opening night, a patron applauded the mention of William Jennings Bryan and Scott, paused, smiled and said thank you.
As always the Stage Manager is the true heart of “Our Town” and Scott is wonderful.
Like many in the cast he is a Williamstown veteran, which only increases the friendly, family feel.
Other frequent visitors include Hecht, Dylan Baker as her husband, Editor Webb, John Rubinstein and Becky Ann Baker as the Dr. and Mrs. Gibbs, and Jon Patrick Walker as the troubled drunk, Simon Stimson.
Brie Larson and Will Rogers are well cast as the tale’s young couple, Emily Webb and George Gibbs. Larson’s Emily is sweetly pretty, innocent and not quite ready for the wider world; Rogers is gangly, generous and truly in love.
“Our Town” is in the air again, with plenty of revivals happening around the region and around the country.
This is a fine one to visit, and a shimmering final chord for Martin.